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Space: the final frontier. Beautiful. Intriguing. Mysterious… but if you go there, YOU WILL DIE! Join astrophysicist Dr Eileen O'Hely and graphic artist Nico O'Sullivan in-conversation with Jacinta den Besten LIVE at Books@Stones!

The human body is perfectly adapted to the conditions on Earth. But blast that fragile body into the extreme and varying environments of space and it won't fare so well – and that’s only if you survive the take-off!

From scorching million degree temperatures, to pressures that would instantly SQUISH you to the size of a ping pong ball, O'Hely and O'Sullivan present, 50 Ways to Die in Space – in excruciating and scientifically accurate detail – the physics and physiology of existing (and ceasing to exist) in deep space.

Meet our guests

Dr Eileen O’Hely is an award-winning children's writer and literary competition judge. Eileen holds a double degree in Arts/Science (Hons) from Melbourne University and a PhD in Astrophysics from UNSW. Her day jobs have included university tutor, English teacher, website producer, and sports journalist. When Eileen is not making lists of all the ways space tries to kill humans, she tells planetarium audiences about how fascinating it is.

Nico O’Sullivan is an emerging illustrator with a love for fun characters and wonderful worlds. With his childhood and teenage years filled with a passion for art and illustration, Nico is excited to bring his first graphic novel to life, sparking curiosity and adventure in young readers.

Jacinta den Besten is a physics educator with a degree in Science (Hons) and graduate diploma in Education from the University of Melbourne. Her research career spans condensed matter physics, teaching in secondary and tertiary education settings, and public outreach in astronomy and mathematics, sometimes all at the same time. Jacinta is a staunch supporter and advocate for women and girls in science and loves combining maths with art and craft.

This episode was recorded on-site at Books@Stones in Meanjin/Brisbane, and produced and edited by Bianca Millroy (SWN).

We acknowledge the Jaegara and Turrbal People as the traditional custodians of these lands, the first scientists and storytellers, and pay our respects to Elders, past and present. Always Was, Always Will Be.

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Science Write Now is dedicated to accessibility, connectivity, inspiration and collaboration across disciplines. Our content is free to access and we want to keep it that way, so if you’re keen to be part of this growing community of creative writing inspired by science, hit subscribe!

We’ll be back with another episode soon, and more conversations inspired by science and creativity to come!

We acknowledge the Jaegara and Turrbal People, Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is created, and the unceded cultural lands on which our guests live and continue to make and tell stories.

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This week on the podcast, Bianca is joined live by two psychiatrist-creatives, Dr Warren Ward and Dr Rory Hutchinson, discussing philosophies of the brain and mind. Journey into the labyrinth to learn what incited these two creative/medical practitioners to pursue a career devoted to the science of the mind and brain. Hear their generous insights on using narrative techniques in their day-to-day practice, and where the creative process, autonomy, ethics and philosophy all fit into this picture. Finally, we explore how scientific and medical practice could be approached differently through the lens of art, philosophy, and the humanities - what it is about the combination of art and science that ignites endless curiosity?

Content note: This episode touches on mental illness, PTSD, eating disorders, suicidality and other aspects of psychiatric medicine. Please take care when listening and reach out to support services available 24/7 when needed.

Meet our guests

Dr Warren Ward is a psychiatrist who writes about philosophy, culture, travel and the history of ideas. His first novel-length work, Lovers of Philosophy, explores the love lives of seven continental philosophers. Warren is an experienced psychiatrist who specialises in eating disorders, and is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Queensland.

Dr. Rory Hutchinson is a highly qualified psychiatrist who uses his extensive knowledge and experience in the Medical Humanities to deliver evidence-based, compassionate care that can make a real difference in people's lives. Rory is also working on a nonfiction project exploring the final works by great artists to understand what art can teach us about life and death.

Bianca Millroy (SWN host) is an emerging science writer, editor, podcaster and PhD student based in Meanjin (Brisbane). Find out more about Bianca on SWN.

This episode was recorded live at the State Library of Queensland on Kurilpa Point, Place of the Water Rat, overlooking the beautiful Maiwar River.

Enjoyed this episode? Share the SWN love!

If you liked this episode, leave us a review and share it far and wide.

Science Write Now is dedicated to accessibility, connectivity, inspiration and collaboration across disciplines. Our content is free to access and we want to keep it that way, so if you’re keen to be part of this growing community of creative writing inspired by science, hit subscribe!

We’ll be back with another episode soon, and more conversations inspired by science and creativity to come!

We acknowledge the Jaegara and Turrbal People, Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is created, and the unceded cultural lands on which our guests live and continue to make and tell stories.

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In this episode of Cognitive Conversations, Bianca Millroy (SWN) is joined by Dr Jules Mead and Diane Clarke for a deep dive into how speech pathology informs dialogue in creative writing and the rather touchy subject of pain: why our human vocabulary seems to fall short of describing it, and why we find it so hard to answer “on a scale of one to ten, how much pain are you in?” In this fascinating interview, Jules and Diane share their expertise as creative and clinical practitioners, and how they came to specialise in paediatric pain and speech pathology.

Dr Jules Mead (nee Richards) is a Nurse Practitioner who has worked with young people dealing with persistent pain for over twenty years. She has a PhD in creative writing, in which she explored the lived experience of young people with persistent pain through a fictional narrative. She is interested in transdisciplinary research and establishing links between the creative arts, education and health. Jules is passionate about advocating for young people with persistent pain and increasing awareness of their lived experience.

Diane Clarke is a retired Brisbane-based Speech Pathologist, who migrated to Australia in 1996 from the UK. Diane specialised in working with children and adults with complex communication needs, alternative and augmentative communication and completed her career as State-Wide Advisor for the Queensland Health Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme. She is the author of two books, The Photograph and The Bracelet where she draws on her knowledge of communication to write authentic dialogue and character interaction.

Diane’s latest novel, The Bracelet is being launched on Saturday 29 March 2025 at Chermside Library (Brisbane) and is available now. The Bracelet has been described as “a masterful family drama and murder mystery which explores themes of identity, inheritance and the impact of buried secrets.” (ooh, ah!) Connect with Diane via her author website and follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Register to attend the book launch via TryBooking.

Jules’ debut novel Translating Emma is out in early April 2025. Check out Jules’ author website and connect on LinkedIn.

This episode was recorded in-person at the State Library of Queensland on the Maiwar or Brisbane River on Kurilpa Point, Place of the Water Rat. Hosted, produced and edited by Bianca Millroy, PhD intern at Science Write Now.

Enjoyed this episode? Share the SWN love!

If you liked this episode, leave us a review and share it far and wide.

Science Write Now is dedicated to accessibility, connectivity, inspiration and collaboration across disciplines. Our content is free to access and we want to keep it that way, so if you’re keen to be part of this growing community of creative writing inspired by science, hit subscribe!

We’ll be back with another episode soon, and more conversations inspired by science and creativity to come!

We acknowledge the Jaegara and Turrbal People, Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is created, and the unceded cultural lands on which our guests live and continue to make and tell stories.